Egg prices prompt resident to request changes to ordinance allowing chickens

Egg prices are so high they have caused a Newton resident to reach out to council member Vicki Wade requesting the city change its ordinances to allow chickens on residential parcels smaller than one acre. Wade told officials about the request during the Jan. 16 council meeting.

Wade was contacted by a resident who lives within city limits. Upon reviewing the code to have chickens on her property, she told Wade because of the rising costs of eggs they were very interested in having chickens on their property. But this individual lives on a parcel that is smaller than one acre.

“According to what she saw in the code — she did her due diligence and read through it — it appears an individual has to have one acre of land to have four chickens,” Wade said. “She was asking if the council would consider modifying that code, whether that’s half an acre or (something else).”

Newton City Administrator Matt Muckler told Wade there is a process for a resident to pay a $100 fee and have planning and zoning reconsider.

“She’s wanting to save money buying eggs and groceries, so $100 could go a long way. If the council would consider that, we can talk about it at a future meeting,” Wade said, to which mayor Mike Hansen agreed it could be made a discussion item where staff could provide more information.

According to a Jan. 12 article published by Forbes, the median cost of a dozen eggs in the United States is $4.25. While Iowa’s average price for eggs — about $3.25 — is below the national average, for many families the costs can add up quickly. Chickens could provide a cost-effective solution to the high egg prices.

In addition to inflation costs, the avian flu is a large contributor to the higher price tag on grocery store eggs.

City Code does allow the keeping of domestic livestock on a lot used principally for residential purposes, but residents are limited on the amount of animals. For every one acre of land, residents can keep four sheep, goats, swine, alpacas or chickens, or two horses or two cattle.